| “Every Club....has to have a youth education policy” |
| Saturday, 30 December 2006 | |
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On December 5th we visited SV Huizen - one of the top amateur clubs in Holland. We went to the club because a Dutch colleague has been hired by the club’s board to restructure their youth education program. On December 5th we visited SV Huizen - one of the top amateur clubs in Holland. We went to the club because a Dutch colleague has been hired by the club’s board to restructure their youth education program. At the club we were given a power point presentation about the club, his role and the structure of the club. We then watched youth teams and the the first team train. After the first team training, we had a short lecture with the coach and a Q and A period. Here are the most important parts of the youth lecture: Ruud Wetzel was hired to implement a youth policy. He has worked at professional clubs Vitesse Arnehm and FC Utrecht as well as many other smaller clubs. He also works for the KNVB and is a judo instructor for the police. His role is to review the club for one year and give advice. If they agree on the advice he will return next year. So far they have agreed on the advice and if things can be worked out financially he will stay. The Mission of SV Huizen is: To provide both competitive and recreational soccer for youth and adults. The club hired Ruud to help develop a youth policy based on the following “ guidelines” Club policies or goals - There is no mixing, no mingling, no combining of the players – they want only the best against the best – ie no rec with competitive unless deserving. - They want to be accessible for players from Gooi to Eemland – a one hour radius - *Normally you only work with the players of your own club – but their are limited possibilities to work with talent – this club says we are not only going for kids in Huisen but to work with the most talented players in the area. This year the U18 had twelve players come over from other clubs – they are number four in the second division. - Good relations and open communication with the members and the community - New Youth Policy implemented between 2006-2010 The Aim of the Youth Policy - The want the first team to always play in the highest amateur level - They want to educate their own youth - The want their U17-19 to be in the third division or higher at the highest level – against professional clubs - They want their U9 – U16 at the highest regional level possible. - The will develop a youth education plan. *In January, Ruud will introduce three handbooks to the club. One for parents, one for coaches and one for players. The books will contain – the youth policy, the SVH way to work in soccer and the system of play for the club. The aim is to make everything around the soccer very clear – all of the time – the aim is to have all the noses going in one direction. Ruud’s Recommendations so far this year: The Director should not coach if he wants to do a good job for everyone. The club wanted him to be the Technical Coordinator and the U18 coach. He said no to both. The reasons – a technical coordinator coordinates – he believed the club needed a soccer boss not a coordinator. If he coached a youth team how could he be responsible for all the teams. He must see his teams play and train, he must see his coaches coach. This is only possible if he is on the field with all the teams rather than with one team or off the field coordinating. Technical Coordinator versus Technical Director Ruud told the club's board the technical coordinator position is a great idea. However it is not what they should pay him to do. Many people can coordinate. He is a coach and an educator of coaches – not as many people can do that. A coordinator, organizes, supports and coordinates. He does not set youth education policy. This is very important in a club but not what his, Ruud’s, role should be. *The general agreement between our group was that our Northern Californian Coaching Directors are more coordinators than “ Coaching Directors”. Our directors end up off the field rather than on the field. Ask yourself, “ How much time does my club’s director spend on the field, with teams other than those they are coaching?” 25% of their time…..50% of their time…..? For the coming year all coaches must have a license. The present staff at the club is not at a high enough level. They must be at a high level – they must be a qualified staff – coaches must have a diploma –a coaching license. *As we watch trainings he points out the staff who everyone loves but they are poor coaches. We have already seen this in the U14 age group training – no cones, very little instruction and poor sizes of grids for the age and talent of the group. His problem will be if the club wants to change course and be hard with coaches who may have been around a while and are nice guys but not very good coaches. * Question – How many of our clubs face the same issues with coaches? Technical Director or Head of Education This is the role he believes the club needs for the soccer. It is the role he would take. The job is: - To give structure – For example: what is needed to reach our goals? Skills coach, yes or no? Goalkeeping program, at what age, how often and how? - To implement – For example: who has the qualities to coach younger players, who can demonstrate, inspire and is energetic? He will develop and implement programs for the coordinator to coordinate. - To educate – Ruud has been hired because he is clearly more educated and experienced, in soccer, than his staff. Therefore should be able to educate and demand from his staff. - To Scout and recruit with the coaches – from within the club and outside the club. - To be responsible for the youth technical program – help write the program, and implement the program. If a coach wants to drop a player it is not his decision – it is Ruuds. If he wants to move a player up…etc. He is responsible for choosing the level and frequency of competition, the coaches, and the technical part of the club. - To be responsible for the Technical Commission – a commission to help develop the technical side of the club. Club Organization: In the club organization there is a line from the board - to the Head of Education- to the competitive soccer - to the teams. There is a different line to the organizational side of the club and the recreational soccer. For example: he is not responsible for the balls – except to tell how many, nor the fields or the coffee in the clubhouse. He is not responsible for the managers, the referee’s or passing out the handbooks. He will develop them but not pass them out. Not out of arrogance but because when you ask the question, ”What do you want to spend your money on – soccer or administration…. ? “The answer becomes clear…. *Most clubs should choose the soccer – many of ours do not and our directors of coaching become club coordinators – coordinating much that could be done by volunteers. After the lecture we go and watch their first team train. After the training we have a question and answer period with coach. That will be posted later. |
